White's wife, Katherine, also works in publishing and she receives hundreds of children's books by publishers seeking her review. The books are overrunning the White household and White is amused by some of the titles and topics ranging from the boyhood adventures of U.S. presidents to the chronicles of a bumblebee. White comes to the conclusion that it would probably be a lot of fun to write for children.

In Progress and Change, White learns that the Sixth Avenue El in New York City is being demolished. This leads White to ponder all the days he spent riding the train complete with its unmistakable sounds and the myriad of people as fellow passengers. White also thinks about other...